A Home at Last

My friend (for privacy reasons, let's call her "A") is one of those fiercely independent ladies I know and truly admire, who has tons of interesting hobbies and is wholly her own person.  She is also one of the feistiest, scrappiest, most hilarious girl to ever grow up in New York City Chinatown.

A's family story is epic:  A's father was from a small village in the province of Canton in mainland China.  When he was a strapping, idealistic young man, Hong Kong was still ceded to the United Kingdom in 1898, and was regarded as the land of better opportunities.  Her father was determined to learn how to swim; he and a group of friends secretly trained in a community swimming pool for a year to strengthen their swimming skills and endurance.

One night, the group made a daring break for freedom.  Under the cover of darkness, they slipped into the choppy waters, and began their swim in the ocean from China to the island of Hong Kong.  In danger of being shot by Communists, eaten alive by vicious sharks, being dragged out to open sea by the undertow or simply drowning from exhaustion, A's father and the group knew that it would be their only chance.

The sole woman in the group had insisted on joining the group over the protests of the men.  The men objected because it was too dangerous and they did not think she would make it.  Still, she demanded to be included.

Sure enough, halfway during that harrowing night of the swim, the woman's strength gave out.  She floundered in the waves, but the men saved her life.  They made it across the strait, taking turns swimming with her on their backs.

A's father was happy in his new life in Hong Kong.  He was a family man - enterprising and ever on the lookout to improve the opportunities for his family, which included a wife and two young daughters.  One day, he saw on tv a documentary about Neil Armstrong's historic moonwalk.  From that moment, he was determined to find a way to take his family to America, "the land where they actually sent a guy to the moon!"

A's family has been living in New York City for decades now.  It has been tough trying to survive in the United States, but they are all the stronger and closer-knit because of it.

Although A's father has since passed away, he lives on through A and her resourcefulness and desire to succeed.  She recently bought an apartment in Harlem, and she told me that it was the proudest moment in her life.  She is the first person in her family to own real estate.

I was honored to be invited to A's housewarming party this past weekend.  I made a card especially for her to celebrate the momentous achievement.

The apartment is tremendous and has a perfect layout.  A's good taste was displayed in the beautiful colors she chose for her walls and her interesting pieces of furniture (some of which she designed, and some which she found at various places in Brooklyn).  

A's party was wonderful.  She and her mom and sister prepared a HUGE spread of tasty foods, both Western and from Chinatown.  So unexpectedly, in addition to crispy-skin roast pork, I got to eat tea eggs and dragonfruit!!  Real estate plus my favorite foods?  I was in heaven!

Congratulations, A!  May your rafters ring with shouts of laughter, may your roof provide shelter for many loved ones, and may your walls brim over with much happiness for years to come.